Last month I formed a new vocal quartet with three people I really admire as singers and as people. The group is named Söngfjarkinn, which pretty much means “VocalQuartet” but with a slight Icelandic twist. We specialise in performing new music but also enjoy the occasional arrangement of a nice folk tune.
The first recording from our debut concert last Saturday is now online. It is of "Vorsól" (Spring Sun) for four voices and piano. Many guests said that this piece was their favourite in the programme so I decided to put the video up early.
The music is by me Helgi R. Ingvarsson and the poem is by Margrét Jónsdóttir (1893-1971).
Poem translation below video.
original poem
Þú vorsól ennþá vekur mig af dvala
og vermir lund.
Ég heyri lind og læki saman hjala
á ljúfri stund.
Á lækjarbakka brosa blómin smáu
svo blíð og hrein,
og ljóðar fugl í lofti fagurbláu,
á laufgri grein.
literal English translation
Spring sun you awake me from my slumber
and warm my being.
I hear the springs and streams babble,
what a serene moment.
On the bank of the stream the flowers smile
so tender and pure,
and a bird sings in the beautiful blue air,
on a green branch.
Söngfjarkinn:
Margrét Hannesdóttir soprano
Helen Whitaker alto
Marteinn Snævarr Sigurðsson tenor
Helgi Rafn Ingvarsson bass